And the school shooters are all for gun control. The vote of 67-50 reflected a mix of Republicans and Democrats in support and opposition.
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Here’s a look at the main issues on the table, and what to expect this week.
“And there’s a bill before us that is not ideal”, said Democratic Rep. Kristin Jacobs, whose district includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Republican lawmakers said the bill violated the Second Amendment.
In response, House Speaker-to-be Jose Oliva (R – Miami) said numerous questions were more about the delay than information. Many students and families have become more aware of how serious and unsafe the threats are due to the past school shootings.
Some students said military-style assault rifles like the AR-15 that was used in Florida and some other mass shootings, should be banned. What the Senate did two days ago was a step in the right direction.
The debate covered 37 amendments filed by Democrats.
In an interview with CBS News on the day that the students of Stoneman Douglas went back to school after the shooting, he explained the stance that he and those involved in the #NeverAgain movement have on gun control.
The new legislation allows the arming of some public school personnel, although classroom teachers are exempted. “We don’t want a veto of the bill because there is just too much good stuff in there for our schools, and for our students and families that need that, especially in Parkland”.
The program would be voluntary, implemented only on the recommendation of the county sheriff and the school district.
“I just wanted to come and say I’m inspired by all of you”, Wade told the students as part of his remarks.
“No way, no form, no shape”.
The action by Florida’s lawmakers represented both a break with the NRA on gun sale restrictions and a partial acceptance of its proposition that the best defense against armed criminals is the presence of “good guys with guns”. Scott is opposed to arming teachers.
Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Hollywood, derided the guardian plan as a “rough draft of a Steven Seagal movie”, saying it envisioned armed cafeteria workers halting a gunman. Galvano later told CNN was “far-fetched”.
Since the Parkland Florida school shootings, many people in our country, including members of congress and even school children, have been calling for more gun control. When the bill makes it to my desk, I’m going to do what they don’t seem to be doing in Washington.
The Florida House has not yet taken up the legislation.
Alabama, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Kentucky have all introduced ERPOs since the Parkland shooting, and more than a dozen other states considered them in 2018. The bill would raise the minimum age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and create a waiting period on sales of the weapons.
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The Senate bill includes increased funding for gun and school safety and for mental health resources.
